Americans’ love affair with chocolate will never end. That said, sales of non-chocolate candy and gum are rising steadily, fueled by the economy and the search for innovative, flavorful new products. “Yes, people are right in calling this a strong category,” said Bill Singer, a principal in Singer’s Chevron Inc. in Walla Walla, Wash. “When…

The Marshmallow Peeps brand continued to grow in Easter 2006. Due to the overwhelming positive response last year to the new yellow Peeps chick inside a chocolate egg, manufacturer Just Born Inc. has hatched another egg in the Peeps family. This Easter, a pink Marshmallow Peeps chick will be nestled inside a crispymilk chocolate egg…

When seasonal holidays come around, Topps Confections has low-calorie, fat-free interactive candies that are a treat for kids, tweens and teens. Give little ghouls and goblins the Halloween treat that leaves a lasting impression: Halloween Baby Bottle Pops, Halloween Ring Pop and multiple varieties of Bazooka Bubblegum. Deck the halls this year with Topps Christmas…